Removable link.



E. J. NIXON.

REMOVABLE LINK.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 15,1910.

Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

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EDWARD J. NIXON, 0F WESTPOINT, CALIFORI'bl'IA.

- REMOVABLE LINK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

Application filed June l5, 1910. Serial No. 567,025

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, -ED\VARD J. NIXON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vestpoint, in the county of Calaveras and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Removable Links, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices employed for uniting sections of chains, either for connecting two separate chains or similar devices or for mending broken chains, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter of an extremely simple construction by which the adjacent ends of two chains or similar devices or the adjacent ends of-a broken chain may be readily connected without detaching the chain.

, construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In'the accompanying drawing there has been illustrated a simple and preferred embodiment of the improvement, and in which drawing, r

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved link showing the same in applied position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the opposite ends of the link members in section. Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the manner of disconnecting the sections.

In a mendinglink and similar devices as heretofore constructed, one class requires the removal of the chainto a blacksmith shop to enable the mending link to be slitted before insertion, while another class requires to be coldshut by the application, of a bending force to the link. The first require ment is often very expensive and troublesome, especially when the force is remote from the locality where. the chain is employed, entailing long delay and serious interference with work, and in the other requirement a comparatively soft and malleable link of less strength than the remaming links of the chain must be employed.

Tn chains employed upon chain or sprocket wheels, the links must necessarily be of the same size and of uniform interior diameter, and a mending link-to be employed in a chain of this character must therefore correspond in size and location when in action to the other links of the chain to cause it to run with the other links in proper order upon the teeth of the wheel.

All of the above requirements are metin the improved mending link herein disclosed, which consists of twin separable members, approximately L-shaped. The long arms 1 of each of the L-shaped sections 2 have their free ends provided with an elongated slot or opening 4. The said long arms 1 are further provided with a flat metallic spring 5 which is pivotally connected therewith and adjacent its uncture with the short arm 6. This spring 5 is adapted to partially close the opening 4, as clearly illustrated in the several figures of the drawing, 'and the said spring adjacent its free end is enlarged as at 7, so as to provide means whereby the said spring may be readily raised, f0r a purpose hereinafter to be set forth. .The short, arm 6 of each of the L-shaped members 2 is provided with'a reduced portion 8, the said portion having an offset or right angnlarlydisposed head 9. The distance between the shoulder 10 and the under face of the offset head 9 is equal to the width of the longer arm 1 and the width of the said head 9 also equals the length of the slot 4;.

In assembling the members 2, it is merely necessary to insert the heads 9 within the openings 4- of each of the sections until the shoulders 10 of the opposite arms contact with the inner faces of the elongated arms 1 of the L-shaped members. By this arrangement, it will be noted that the projecting portions of the springs 7 will-be forced upwardly. It will be further noted that a sliding movement of one or both of the said L-shaped members 2 will cause the under face-or lip of the offset head to move toward the extremity of each of the arms 1 and after-the same has been slid beyond the end of the springs 7, the said springs will swing downwardly so as to contact the reduced portion 8 of the said head 9, thus effectively and securely locking the sections together.

When it is desired to separate the sections, it is merely necessary for the operator to grasp the enlargements or finger holds 7 upon the springs to swing the same away from the arms 1 of the sections, and a rear ward "or opposite pressure upon one or both of the sections will allow the heads 9 to be readily removed from engagement within the slots 4.

From the above tiQsxiilitiHli. when in vonneetion with th a :iveniinpziiiyiiig drawings, it will he'inutmi that i have provided an extremely simple and thoroughly effective (it:-

intended, and While T have ithisti-ated and tiQSCYibOCi the preferred einhwitiiiiurnt 01' the iinpinveinent, as it now appears to me, ininm: detniis of construct-inn, Within the scope of the following claim may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus inii described the invention, what 1' claim as new is:-

A mending link comprising twin sop liablen'iernhews, (nah of which consiis s of an nppinxin'mteiy L-shaped nnnn'iheithe longer arms of each of enid members being proeeenaa I F viciefi with an eiongnted hpening; ndjmw-iit. thchr ends the shm'tmr arms of each of the members being provided with a redneed 0th seth en ded portion, the headed pol'tion of one of the 'i'nen'ihei's adapted to be inserted-Within the elongated opening f the opposite mei'nhei', and spring eieinents contacting the hefldeii portions of the members to retain the said U'IGII'lbOL'S Within the opei'iings engugenmnt, with nah other" in testimony whereof I zzfl'ix my signature in PICHQIICG of two 'n itnesses.

EDWA RD J. NI XON.

Witnesses F. A. Vinson, .Tosinu G. @XBinnn. 

